Top 10 Most Popular Anime Characters
#10: Edward Elric
“Fullmetal Alchemist” (2003-04) & “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” (2009-10) He may not like to drink his milk, but the oldest Elric brother has still grown into quite the public figure. After all, there’s no “Fullmetal Alchemist” without the Fullmetal Alchemist himself. Ed’s way more than a token protagonist, though. He tackles he and his brother’s tragic circumstances with a kind of heart that’s clearly resonated with people. Yes, he uses alchemy, and yes, he’s part metal. But, beyond all that, Ed is just a human trying to do better. As it turns out, that’s what you get for starring in two excellent anime adaptations. It's equivalent exchange at its finest.
#9: L Lawliet
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“Death Note” (2006-07) When you stop to think about it, no one knows very much about L. Not his past, not his plan, and not even his full first name. He breaks just about every single storytelling rule in the book, and yet, something about L is utterly captivating. Maybe it’s his enigmatic personality. Maybe it’s his wholly unique posture. Or, maybe it’s the fact that his mental gymnastics with Light lead to some of the most legendary plot twists in “Death Note.” And that’s really saying something. Either way, it doesn’t take L’s brilliance to realize that this supergenius is a truly one-of-a-kind character.
#8: Levi Ackerman
“Attack on Titan” (2013-) Even in a world overrun by man-eating Titans, no one’s left a bigger footprint than Captain Levi. Mainly because he’s the one knocking them all down. At a certain point, it looks like he’s just showing off. But, that’s not Levi’s style. For as many Titans as he’s slain, he’s spent just as many episodes defending his iron-clad convictions. No matter who he has to go through to do it. Levi’s unwavering ideals both on and off the battlefield have earned him the adoration of just about everyone. Including the series’ animators. Let’s just say it can’t hurt that Levi’s also been in some downright jaw-dropping fight scenes over the years.
#7: Lelouch vi Britannia
“Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion” (2006-07) Look, surviving an attempted family massacre is bound to leave anyone a bit jaded. But, that doesn’t quite excuse Lelouch’s bloody brand of vengeance. Instead, he became the epitome of a character that’s hard to like, but easy to love. From there, Lelouch sat back and spent two fantastic seasons as the quintessential anime antihero. Is he a bit excessive? Absolutely. But, you won’t care when Lelouch looks so damn cool while doing it. As if a result of Geass itself, Zero’s alter ego proved that audiences could still root for morally gray characters. At least, as long as they were as compelling as Lelouch.
#6: Asuka Langley Soryu & Rei Ayanami
“Neon Genesis Evangelion” (1995-96) Why choose one EVA pilot, when you can have two? For generations, fans have argued over whether Asuka or Rei is the show’s certified best girl - and for good reason. While Asuka’s certainly got more fire, Rei’s subdued characterization is just as engrossing. In fact, it’s because of their differences that they feel like a complete set; two sides of the same thematic coin. And, as an added bonus, they both come with giant, angel-killing robots, too. If you need more convincing, just look at the endless amount of ludicrously expensive “Evangelion” merch out there. Clearly, these two aren’t some of anime’s most recognizable female characters for nothing.
#5: Monkey D. Luffy
“One Piece” (1999-) Eiichiro Oda’s swashbuckling epic is the current best-selling manga of all time. It’s spawned video games, spinoffs, merchandise, and an anime that’s aired for over twenty years straight. And, every single step of the way, Monkey D. Luffy has been the face of it all. His quest to be King of Pirates has sailed him through heartbreaking losses, insane battles, and just about everything in between. But, odds be damned, Luffy always tackles it with the same goofy smile. Without him, “One Piece” simply doesn’t work. So, even though Luffy hasn’t quite become King of the Pirates in his world, he’s definitely earned the crown in this one.
#4: Naruto Uzumaki
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“Naruto” franchise (2002-) For a ninja, this guy sure is bad at staying undercover. Then again, Naruto’s strength has always been in his heart, not his jutsu. That’s the real reason why his story is so empowering. There’s just nothing like seeing an immature kid grow into the hero he always wanted to be. Especially over the course of a decade-spanning anime series. Naruto even got to vanquish a few world-ending threats along the way. And, believe it, no one makes an epic entrance quite like the number-one knuckle-headed ninja. Now that he has a son to continue the lineage, it’s safe to say Naruto’s legacy will never die.
#3: Usagi Tsukino
“Sailor Moon” franchise (1992-) Even if they don’t know her name, most people probably know what Usagi Tsukino looks like. The twin-bun hairstyle is basically iconic on its own. But, if that still doesn’t ring a bell, the words “Sailor Moon” definitely will. The unprecedented success of the show has pretty much turned Usagi into the de-facto magical girl in all of anime. And there’s been a lot of them. But, even amid countless sequels, ripoffs, and parodies, nothing has come close to capturing the success of the original. By now, there’s no denying it; Usagi’s turned into a worldwide cultural icon. And she didn’t even need a transformation scene to do it.
#2: Son Goku
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“Dragon Ball” franchise (1986-) Way back in 1986, an eager kid with a monkey’s tail made his television debut. And the anime industry is still thanking him for it. Nowadays, calling Goku “influential” feels like a disservice to everything he accomplished. His innocent disposition and zest for combat essentially defined what a new-age anime hero could be. So much so, that he ended up taking the entire world by storm. That’s right, Goku’s adventures across the “Dragon Ball” franchise are credited for introducing anime to a global audience. He’s gotten a few new hair colors over the years, but there’s no mistaking the face that inspired so much of what anime is today.
#1: Pikachu
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“Pokémon” (1997-) You don’t even have to know what anime is to recognize “Pokémon.” And, there’s no “Pokémon” without Pikachu. As such, Ash’s loyal companion is more than a mere animated character. He’s basically a walking, talking cultural celebrity, complete with more merchandise than any one person could ever hope to collect. It’s not all from the anime, though. Pikachu’s been in so many mainstream collaborations that his time on the show is barely a footnote in his resume anymore. But, that’s just what it means to be the mascot of the one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. Everybody knows your name - and we do mean everybody.